Curtain-roller.



W. H. FORSYTH.

CURTAIN ROLLER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 19, 1914.

1,132,655, Patented Mar. 23, 191 5.

WILLIAM H. FORSYTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CURTAIN-ROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

1 Application filed June 19, 1914. Serial No. 846,046.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, l/VILLIAM H. FoRsY'rH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Rollers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to curtain fixtures of that type wherein the spring-actuated roller is mounted in brackets within the window frame and is held at an adjusted height by shoes bearing frictionally against the casing within guides provided for the purpose, the roller spring exerting a constant tension to elevate the curtain by rotating the roller.

In order that the roller spring shall at all times be under sufficient tension as it lifts the curtain from its lowermost to its uppermost position, it is necessary that the spring shall be under a certain tension even when the curtain is fully wound up and in order to maintain this initial tension of the spring while installing the curtain roller and its brackets it is usual to employ a pawl or other detent whereby to hold the spring, spindle and roller against relative movement until the spear head of the spindle is safely engaged within its bracket and then in some manner to release suchrdetent in order to allow the spring to exert its force on the roller.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved detent arrangement facilitating the release of the same after the mounting of the curtain and adapted for easy reengagement when it is desired for any reason to remove the curtain from the window.

In order that the invention may be readily understood a preferred embodiment of the same is set forth in the accompanying drawing and in the subjoined detailed description based thereon. As, however, the invention is capable of embodiment in other and various constructional forms the drawing and description are to be taken in an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an end view of a curtain roller showing the spindle engaged by the detent; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the shade roller tion partially broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the detent disassociated from the roller. 7 I

In the drawing the reference numeralll designates the barrel of the roller within which is axially mounted the spindle 12 provided with the usual spear head 13 and connected with the barrel by means of a torsion spring 1 1. The spindle has its end bearing within the cylindrical flange 15 of an end plate 16 fitted within the end of the roller, this general construction being well known in curtain "rollers. Extending laterally from the spindle 12 is a projection 17 which occupies a position within the depression of the end plate 16 with its outer end closely adjacent the shell of the roller. r

I The roller shell is slitted at 18 and 19 and depressed therebetween in such manner as to form a guiding support for the detent 20 which is slidably mounted immediately below but substantially flush with the peripheral surface of the roller. This detent is in the form of a metallic strip, having a terminal lip 21 which projects inwardly from the periphery of the roller in the plane of the projection 17 and is shiftable longitudinally of the roller from such position to a retracted position out of the plane of said projection. The detent is provided with an operating button 22 whereby it may be reciprocated and is also provided adjacent the lip 21 with a stop 23 adapted to engage the end of the recessed portion 11? of the roller shell so as to limit the extent of inward movement of the detent, the engagement of the button 22 with the shell at the slit 19 limiting the outward movement of the detent.

It will be observed that the lip 21 is arranged obliquely so as to provide a face 21 inclined to the plane of its rotation and to inclined to the plane of rotation of the lip 21. The inclinations of the projection and v lip are such in relation to each other that in the direction of rotation under the action of the spring 14: the detent will engage with the projection, whereas in the reverse d1- rection of rotation as in unwinding the curtain against the action of the spring, the inclined faces will co-act to push the detent inwardly of the roller out of the plane of the projection and release the engagement between the two.

When it is desired to install the fixture, the spring 14 is placed under an initial tension by rotating the spindle by means of the spear head and the detent is moved outwardly by means of the button 22 so as to engage the projection 17 with its lip 21. The curtain is then completely wound upon the roller and the latter is placed in position with the ends of the spindle engaging Within the brackets of the window. Thereupon the curtain is grasped and unwound to the extent of one complete revolution of the roller, whereupon the inclined faces of the lip and projection co-act to push the detent inward longitudinally of the roller and out of the plane of the projection. The roller is thus left free to rotate under the influence of the spring 14 acting to wind the curtain thereon and opposed only by the friction shoes or other restraining devices in ordinary use for this purpose in connection with this type of curtain fixture.

I claim:

1. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagement with supporting brackets, a torsion spring connecting the barrel and spindle, a stop carried by the spindle, and a detent carried by the barrel and movable longitudinally thereof, the stop and detent adapted to lock the spindle and barrel temporarily against rotation under the influence of the spring, the detent adapted to be automatically disengaged by the stop upon the rotation of the barrel in a reverse direction and to remain disengaged subject to manual reengagement.

2. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagement within supporting brackets and provided with a lateral projection, a spring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a detent strip slidable longitudinally of the barrel into and out of the path of the projection, the detent and projection provided with inclined faces adapted upon the rotation of the barrel in oppo sition to the spring to co-act and shift the detent out of the path of the projection, a detent provided with means for manual operation normally inaccessible but exposed when the curtain is unwound.

8. Ina curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagement within supporting brackets and provided with a lateral pro jection, a spring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a detent slidable longitudinally of the barrel into and out of the path of the projection, said detent comprising a metallic strip mounted within guides formed in the shell of the barrel and having an exteriorly accessible portion whereby the detent may be operated, the detent and projection provided with inclined faces adapted upon the rotation of the barrel in opposition to the spring to co-act and shift the detent out of the plane of the projection.

4. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagement within the supporting brackets and provided with a lateral projection, a torsion spring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a detent slidable longitudinally of the barrel substantially flush with the peripheral surface thereof into and out of the path of the projection, said detent comprising a metallic strip mounted within guides formed in the shell of the barrel and having an operating button normally covered by the curtain but accessible when the curtain is unwound from the barrel, the detent and projection provided with inclined faces adapted upon the rotation of the barrel in opposition to the spring to co-act and shift the detent out of the plane of the projection.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. FORSY'IH.

lVitnesses:

Lnwrs T. Gnnrsr, T. D. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

